Newcastle U23 vs West Ham U23 highlights and score as Toni Martinez fires the U23s to play-off glory in PL2

West Ham United are PL2 Division Two play-off champions! (Image: Getty Images)

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West Ham Under-23s will play Premier League 2 Division One football next season after beating Newcastle United 2-1 at St James' Park in the Division Two play-off final.

Two goals from man of the moment Toni Martinez booked the Hammers' place in the top flight as they came from a goal down for the second time in a week after Terry Westley's side earned their place in the final with a dramatic win 2-1 win over Wolves last week.

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The Spanish striker - playing his first game in two and a half months following an injury he picked up on loan at Oxford - scored two extremely clinical goals as the Hammers sealed a top-division berth.

Tom Heardman had prodded the Toon into a first half lead but Martinez struck on 43 and 59 minutes to take the Hammers into Division One of the PL2 structure.

The Toon had already beaten the Hammers this season in the Premier League Cup back in March, just five days before the two drew 0-0 at St James' Park in the league.

Brilliant!

Another come from behind win for the yungsters as a Toni Martinez brace sees them win 2-1 over a resolute Newcastle side, who huffed and puffed but couldn’t break down the Hammers for a second time.

20:47Sam Inkersole

ADDED TIME

Three minutes of it. Come on you Irons, hold on!

20:43Sam Inkersole

So close!

20:41Sam Inkersole

CLEARED!

85’ Blocked by the wall and the rebound is superbly punched clear by Spiegel. Joe Powell coming on for the Hammers, Martinez is replaced after his fantastic brace of goals. [1-2]

20:40Sam Inkersole

Dangerous free kick

Newcastle have a set piece 20 yards out...

20:36Sam Inkersole

FLAPPY HANDS!

Spiegel fluffs his lines from a corner but luckily, he can gather it in the nick of time. [1-2]

20:30Sam Inkersole

CHANCE!

Fernandez goes close for the hosts, letting rip from 20 yards but it curls wide of Spiegel’s far post. [1-2]

20:27Sam Inkersole

Declan Rice...

What a player he is going to be. Just outsprinted and outmuscled Heardman in a five yard and cleared when under pressure. Outstanding from the captain. [1-2]

20:22Sam Inkersole

The calls grow louder....

20:20Sam Inkersole

Hammers pressing...

63’ The visitors smell blood and want to finish this game off. Kemp and Samuelsen both have shots blocked. [1-2]

20:17Sam Inkersole

Crowd

It’s 1,824.

20:12Sam Inkersole

14 goals in 13 games for Spaniard!

He’s a machine!

20:11Sam Inkersole

GOOOOAAAALLLLLLL MARTINEZ!!!

The Spaniard has done it again! Let’s fly from 20 odd yards and pings it bottom corner!

20:09Sam Inkersole

Sub for the Hammers

54’ Nathan Holland - who was a doubt for the game with injury - is off and Grady Diangana is on. [1-1]

20:06Sam Inkersole

CHANCE!

51’ Martinez has the chance of a free volley in the box but he whiffs it completely. He was unmarked and thats a big chance for the visitors. [1-1]

20:02Sam Inkersole

Back underway

COME ON YOU IRONS.

20:02Sam Inkersole

Would you?

20:01Sam Inkersole

The players are back out

We are ready for the second half, with the PL2 play-off final delicately posied at 1-1.

19:49Sam Inkersole

Half time thoughts

What do I think of that half?

Newcastle were more physical than the Hammers and deserved their lead throgh Heardman. West Ham had to be strong to hold off the Toon after that but they weathered the storm.

The visitors finally got Martinez involved in the latter stages of the half and his first real chance on goal, he buried it. They say put your laces through the ball when you strike it and that’s what the Spaniard did, rifling it through Nathan Harker.

A very good half from both sides.

19:46Sam Inkersole

Half time!

It’s 1-1 at the break and that seems about fair. Newcastle opened the scoring midway through the half via Heardman’s tap-in but Toni Martinez’s equaliser two minutes before the break has got the Hammers right back in this play-off final.

19:45Sam Inkersole

Sub for the Hammers

44’ Noha Sylvestre has had to come off, limping as he did so. Stephen Hendrie has come on for him. 1-1

19:45Sam Inkersole

Quite

19:43Sam Inkersole

GOOOOOAAAALLLLL

Martinez has levelled it up at 1-1! Lovely pass from Dobson in behind and Martinez absolutely smashed it through Harker and into the net. Get in! 1-1, 2mins before half time

19:41Sam Inkersole

CRUNCH

41’ Strong challenge by Jamie Holmes on Moses Makasi - wins the ball fair - but shoots well over for Newcastle, who look very dangerous on the counter attack. At the other end, Martinez has a wild swing at goal but it’s miles over. 1-0.

19:37Sam Inkersole

CHANCE!

37’ Newcastle give the ball in their box and Holland snaps it up, has a strike but it’s deflected wide for a corner, which is then cleared. 1-0.

19:35Sam Inkersole

Not been his night so far

19:33Sam Inkersole

Pretty close!

32’ Heardman is half a yard offside for the hosts in the box. West Ham enjoying loads of possession but it’s all in front of Newcastle, the visitors aren’t really threatening. 1-0

19:26Sam Inkersole

Toon on the offensive

26’ The hosts are really ramping the pressure on now. They have forced three corners and a couple of close range free kicks as the Hammers come under siege. Holding on, though. 1-0.